Guwahati, 9th December: The Congress unit in Assam is gearing up for the upcoming Lok Sabha polls, initiating the election process by inviting applications from party members aspiring to contest. The Assam Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC) general secretary, Bipul Gogoi, announced that applications, accompanied by a Rs 1 lakh fee, will be accepted starting Monday. The call for applications extends to all Indian National Congress (INC) members interested in securing the party’s ticket for any of the 14 Lok Sabha seats in the state, as per the directive from Assam PCC chief Bhupen Kumar Borah.
Prospective candidates are required to submit their applications between December 11 and 19, inclusive of the specified fee. Given Congress’s participation in a 15-member opposition party forum in the state, intending candidates must be cautious about certain constituencies where the party may refrain from fielding candidates. The circular notes that applicants for such constituencies will receive a refund of their fees.
The possibility of the INC vacating seats in favor of allies is acknowledged, and in such cases, the party commits to reimbursing the application fee to the respective candidate. The United Opposition Forum Assam (UOFA), a 15-party alliance formed along the lines of the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA), includes Congress, AJP, Raijor Dal, CPI(M), CPI, Jatiya Dal-Asom, NCP, RJD, Janata Dal (U), TMC, CPI(ML), AAP, AIFB, Shiv Sena (UT), and the Karbi Anglong-based All Party Hill Leaders Conference (APHLC).
Recently, the UOFA conducted a two-day conclave to strategize for the upcoming Lok Sabha polls.